Devolved government at Stormont needs an opposition, new Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott has insisted.

Speaking only hours after SDLP leader urged the UUP to help restore the “centre ground” of Northern Ireland’s politics, Mr Elliott argued the current five-party Executive is not working “like a normal government”.

It is understood he favours a one-party opposition model, while not ruling out more than a single party being involved.

“It is a long-standing position of the UUP that Northern Ireland needs a more normalised form of Government with a voluntary ‘cross-community’ coalition and an official opposition that is better able to hold the Executive to account,” he said.

“As we head towards the Assembly election, with issues surrounding the selection of First Minister and the danger of a tribal campaign, the Ulster Unionist Party is determined about the need for such reform.

“It is clear from the workings of the current Executive that it is not functioning like a proper democratic government.”